Three-time women's champion Anastasia Dobromyslova has taken part in the men's event before

The news, announced by Professional Darts Corporation chairman Barry Hearn, comes less than six months after the famous walk-on girls were dropped by the sport.

PDC will also expand the competition from 72 players to 96 and increase the winner’s prize money to £500,000 of the £2.5 million pot.

Hearn said: “The William Hill World Darts Championship has become a phenomenon in worldwide sport given its incredible growth in recent years, but this announcement takes the tournament to a whole new level.

"Moving to 96 players will not only reward more players from our ProTour, with 32 qualifiers joining the world's top 32 players in securing places in the World Championship, but also gives us the opportunity to expand the international qualifiers.